Police train on human rights

The
Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) in collaboration
with the West Africa Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCRH)
based in Dakar with funding from the Dutch Embassy in Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday
held a two-day training on human rights for personnel of The Gambia Police
Force.

The
training, which was held at Metzy Residence Hotel, was designed to enhance the
capacity of The Gambia Police Force in enforcing human rights protection for
all.

Ms
Seraphine Wakana, the UN Resident Coordinator in The Gambia, in her opening
remarks, underscored the importance of the training, saying refocusing and
retraining The Gambia Police Force is particularly important following the end
of 22 years of dictatorship and systematic violations of human rights.

She
acknowledged that as the main body responsible for maintaining law and order as
well as protecting life and property in the country, the training would go a
long way in helping the police ensure a safe and secure society for all.

“Promotion
and protection of human rights by law enforcement officers is an essential part
of a successful functioning democracy, since the police are the guardians of
the law and the first line of defense for human rights”, she stated.

Madam
Wakana indicated that when law enforcement agencies and officers are seen to
respect, uphold and defend human rights, public confidence is built, and
community cooperation fostered, thereby contributing to the peaceful resolution
of conflicts and complaints and successful legal prosecutions in court.

For
his part, Gaye Sowe, executive director of IHRDA, said the training workshop
was conceived as a way to expose police officers to the various human rights
obligations contained both in national laws and in several regional and
international human rights instruments to which The Gambia is a party.

The
training, he went on, is an effort to ensure police officers are aware that
there are human rights standards they have to abide by in executing their
duties.

Deputizing
for the Inspector General of Police, ASP Jerreh Sambou said as police officers
they cannot effectively execute their duties without understanding human
rights. He thus thanked sponsors for their foresight.

ASP
Sambou acknowledged that respect for human rights will build the image of The
Gambia Police Force.